Thousands of devotees thronged the Vaishnavaite temples in Madurai, in the early hours of Monday on the occasion of ‘Vaikunta Ekadasi’.
Vaikunta Ekadasi falls on the 11th day of the Sukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) of Dhanur (Margazhi) month.
The ritual of opening of ‘Paramapada Vaasal’ was performed at Prasanna Venkatachalapathy Temple in Madurai and Kallalagar Temple in Alagarkovil at 5 am. Devotees braved the chill weather to catch a glimpse of Lord Vishnu coming out of the temple as part of the ritual of entering the ‘Paramapada Vaasal’.
According to P. Jayaraman, Joint Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, a large number of devotees visited the temples for the continuous dharshan organised for the special occasion.
Free prasadam was distributed to all the devotees, he added.
Devotees gathered at Koodal Alagar Perumal Temple and Kalamegaperumal Temple in Tirumogur for the ritual in the evening.
